-by Drew Kolar, Editor-in-Chief; Image: Adele top sour 2011 list for obvious reasons. (Image Source: Billboard)
With another year under our belts came a slew of great music to keep us dancing, singing, laughing or crying—or sometimes all of the above. 2011 was a great year for real music, as performers like Adele and the Foo Fighters shot to the top, bringing true artistry back into the spotlight.
Still, narrowing all of the great releases down is no easy feat, and it is hard to ignore some of the big names who have altered the music world this year. Here is our listing of the 10 best albums of 2011:

With another year under our belts came a slew of great music to keep us dancing, singing, laughing or crying—or sometimes all of the above. 2011 was a great year for real music, as performers like Adele and the Foo Fighters shot to the top, bringing true artistry back into the spotlight.

Still, narrowing all of the great releases down is no easy feat, and it is hard to ignore some of the big names who have altered the music world this year. Here is our listing of the 10 best albums of 2011:5. Duran Duran, All You Need is Now

Okay, this is a stretch because the album hit iTunes in 2010 but physically dropped in February—so that counts, right? At any rate, Duran Duran has been a huge influence on the music industry since the 80s, and their recent album, All You Need is Now, is yet another great contribution to their catalogue, with an updated sound that still harkens back to their roots. If anything, check out the track “The Man Who Stole a Leopard,” which features yet another AllMediaNY favorite, R&B star turned dance queen Kelis.